Percentage of Sefton teenagers using fake ID almost doubles

THE NUMBER of Sefton teenagers owning fake ID cards has nearly doubled in two years, according to a new survey of young people.

The report also shows that the percentage of Sefton’s young people making fake ID for themselves has increased by 6% to 34%.

Despite this Sefton Trading Standards have branded the survey, which shows a 12% decrease in the number of young people buying alcohol, as “encouraging”.

The study, which involved issuing questionnaires to schools across the North West, was completed by 14-17 year olds.

It is hoped the findings will help identify how and where teenagers buy alcohol and what can be done to prevent sales.

Councillor Sue McGuire, Chair of Sefton’s Licensing Committee, said: “I am really pleased with the report and there are some really positive reductions in the number of 14-17 year olds who are not drinking alcohol.

“But it is clear that there is still work to be done particularly with the number of youngsters drinking in large groups.”

“Retailers also need more information about what fake IDs look like and this is something we need to target.”

The survey also found the number of young people claiming never to drink alcohol almost doubled from 12% to 23%, while there was also a 7% reduction in the number of young people drinking in order to get drunk.

Binge drinking, which remains a huge issue nationally, also shows encouraging signs of decreasing, with data showing that Sefton has one of the largest proportions of 14-17 year olds who never binge drink (38%), compared with a 33% North West average.

Speaking in July, former Alcohol Concern Chief Executive Don Shenker said: “The decision by some young people not to drink may be a reflection of a wider trend among young people to go against the flow and opt out of the prevalent pattern of excessive drinking among youth in the UK.”

More worryingly, the report also shows a 7% increase in 14-17 year olds who obtain alcohol from their parents or guardians. Nearly half claimed to get their alcohol from their friends or adult family members, with more traditional sources, such as pubs and nightclubs, falling by 50 %.

Results also show that young females are more likely to binge-drink than young males.

Dan Moxon, regional participation officer at North West Children, Young People and Alcohol Programme, said: “Based on our research it’s clear that many young women in Merseyside and across the North West see drinking as ‘just a normal thing to do for teenagers’. If we want to change this we need to change the messages that society is giving to them, and support them to become more independent from their peers.”